Iran Approves Shipping Fees for Strait of Hormuz Transit

Iran’s parliament has approved a provision that enables the country to charge fees to vessels from countries it authorizes to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This decision comes as the United States is set to increase economic pressure on Tehran.

Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned Gulf countries against supporting the U.S. campaign, threatening to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf if they do. The National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament approved Article 3 of a proposed law concerning the security and development of the Strait of Hormuz, which allows Tehran to collect fees for various services provided to authorized vessels.

These services include maritime, environmental, fuelling, insurance, and safety services, with payments accepted in Iranian rials or another currency designated by Tehran. The proposal must be reviewed by the full parliament and the Guardian Council before becoming law.